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Young Tennis Star Alcaraz Forced to Retire Due to Ankle Injury
In a shocking turn of events, rising tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz was forced to retire from his first-round match against Thiago Monteiro after just two points. The 18-year-old found himself in a precarious situation when his right foot got caught in the ground, causing him to roll his ankle. Despite his best efforts to continue, the pain proved too much for Alcaraz, ultimately leading to his retirement.
The incident occurred early on in the match, with Alcaraz attempting to change direction quickly. Unfortunately, his right foot became trapped, causing him to collapse to the ground. After taking some time to recover, Alcaraz received medical attention from ATP physio Alejandro Resnicoff, who provided support by strapping his injured ankle.
Despite returning to the court and even breaking Monteiro’s serve, Alcaraz was unable to maintain his momentum. Monteiro quickly retaliated, breaking Alcaraz’s serve in the next game, resulting in a tied score of 1-1. After just 18 minutes of play, with only 10 minutes dedicated to actual gameplay, Alcaraz made the difficult decision to retire. He approached the net, shook Monteiro’s hand, and signaled the end of the match.
Speaking about his injury, Alcaraz expressed his concern for the severity of the situation. He explained, “I felt bad. That was my initial impression. The pain was immediate after my fall, and I knew it would be challenging to continue playing with such discomfort.” Despite attempting to push through the pain, Alcaraz realized that it would only worsen if he continued. Ultimately, he chose to prioritize his long-term well-being and retire from the match.
Although Alcaraz was able to leave the court without crutches, his visible limp as he made his way to the locker rooms raised concerns about the extent of his injury. As a two-time Grand Slam winner, Alcaraz has had a successful 2024 campaign thus far, with a record of 7-3. However, this recent setback follows his quarter-final loss at the Australian Open and a surprising defeat in the semi-final of the Argentina Open last week.
Monteiro, who now holds a 2-0 lead against Alcaraz in their head-to-head battles, expressed his sympathy for his opponent. Reflecting on the incident, Monteiro shared, “This is so strange. It was only the second point of the match. It didn’t seem serious on the court, but when I saw it on the big screen, it was a bad twist. Now, all I can do is support Alcaraz in his recovery. He is a star, a dominant force in the new generation of tennis.”
As Alcaraz awaits further tests to determine the severity of his ankle injury, fans and fellow players alike are hopeful for his swift recovery. With his next scheduled event being the Indian Wells Open in March, the young tennis prodigy’s journey may face a temporary setback, but his talent and determination are sure to propel him back into the spotlight.
According to the Source tennis365.com